Will there ever be that last great high-horsepower, manual transmission, front-engine, rear-wheel driven sedan? We keep hearing about manuals going by the wayside, but new ones keep popping up. Not that we’re complaining or anything, but if this is the last from General Motors, what a way to tie it off. All the style of the new Cadillacs with the heart of a Corvette and some seriously infectious presence had our resident German and Japanese car aficionados ready to dive into this detail!

Adding to one of the longest-running models in history, the Corvette ZR1 takes it to the extreme. A supercharger larger than some engines and plenty more along the way, this is the fastest and most powerful production Corvette to date. The owner of this example loves to drive it and came to Areté to protect and maintain its beautiful finish. Having already protected their subsequent Corvettes with us, SunTek PPF Ultra with CQuartz Finest Reserve was an easy choice. As this is slated to be the last front-engine Corvette, superior PPF coverage and CQuartz coatings were in order!

Here at Arete, we are great admirers of emerging technologies, whether they are detailing, automotive or otherwise! With the Tesla Model 3 the sheer power it delivers to the futuristic experience behind the wheel; there’s no shortage of excitement. These two cars both received our top-tier, industry leading ceramic protection system, CQuartz Finest Reserve. With protection measured in years, there is nothing better.

Taking the Corvette namesake to even higher heights, the ZR1 model is truly an awesome machine. This example, adorned in a stunning Sebring Orange finish, wasted no time in seeking out industry-leading protection with SunTek paint protection film and CQuartz Professional ceramic coatings.

The S-class has long been a representation of the latest the technology the market has to offer, introducing features that eventually trickle down into every day vehicles as the pace of innovation brings them into wider adoption. On the other hand, AMG has been creating absolutely insane machines that push the limits of performance possibilites. We were thrilled to take care of this example, and the owner pulled no punches in getting it setup for its life with him via a very extensive CQuartz Finest service

We have a deep appreciation for automotive design, and any opportunity we can get to indulge we are happy to take! This 981 Cayman GTS was no exception. Porsche created a curvaceous masterpiece, with each panel possessing truly tantalizing lines that flow together to create something greater than the sum of its parts. At Arete we are unabashed Porsche fans but this is one of the more beautiful modern pieces by a brand that has historically made some incredibly striking machines. When the owner of this particular Guards Red example contacted us for a very extensive protection and preservation service we were thrilled to take on the challenge!

As we say our final farewells to SEMA 2016, we present the last part of our event coverage! This year we saw so many insane machines, amazing paint surfaces, met new friends, laughed with old ones, and learned a lot while we were at it. We hope you've enjoyed our visual journey as much as we have sharing it with you.

It is truly impossible for one person to see all that the SEMA Show has to offer. This edition of our 3 part SEMA coverage series covers more of our favorites and standouts from our annual trip to Vegas! As always, each image expands for hi-res viewing. Enjoy!

The latest (F80) BMW M3 is truly an impressive machine. From its aggressive styling to powerful, twin-turbo drive train we never get tired of working with them. This particular example came in Yas Marina Blue which is an absolutely spectacular color; featuring pearl and heavy flake over a cool pastel blue.

We see a lot of exciting machines come through our doors. Some stand out more than others, and this C7 Corvette certainly was one of them! Not only is the current generation Corvette absolutely stunning, this color scheme stole our hearts. GM really has created a masterpiece with this vehicle from the deep, glossy white paint surface to the sparkling black trim accents we were ready to dig in.